Here in Virginia the outdoor growing season is still more than 6 weeks away. Those of us who are planning for an abundant harvest have started some plants indoors and made a list of the seeds and plants we’ll be picking up in the coming weeks. We have an idea of where our plants will go, which ones will need extra care and which ones will amaze us with little or no help at all. Once soil temperatures and overnight lows permit planting, we’ll be ready, but what about the garden? Whether you are starting a new garden or using the same space you always plant, you won’t want to start without testing the pH of your soil.

Why test the soil? Adjusting pH to the proper level promotes healthier plants, bigger vegetables, and better blooms. Soil testing is easier than ever with all of the user-friendly soil test kits available now. For example, the SoilStick Starter Pack  not only tests your soil but provides a chart that matches plants with their pH requirements and includes an amendment chart to help with raising or lowering your soil to the optimum pH level.

Optimum soil pH for most vegetables, fruits and flowers is around 6.5 (or slightly acidic), the ideal range for bacterial growth which promotes decomposition. Decomposition releases nutrients and minerals that are present in the soil making them available to the plants. That mid-range pH is also the ideal range for encouraging the growth of microorganisms in the soil that convert nitrogen in the air into a form plants can absorb. So, if the soil pH is out of balance and the nutrients and minerals are “locked up” plant growth may be restricted.

So, you have your soil test results. Now what? If your soil is too acidic, say below 6.0, you will want to neutralize soil pH by working in a ground limestone product like Espoma Organic Traditions Garden Lime. It is pelletized to spread easily and blend nicely with your garden soil. Keep testing the soil up until planting time and adding more limestone as indicated. If planting day is looming near and your test results are still unsatisfactory, try Hydrated Lime from Bonide.  It works faster than typical ground limestone and can be used throughout the growing season.

To lower the pH of alkaline soils, compost and manures are the best materials to use. The benefits of compost are fabulous; it offers the soil a rich humus that provides nutrients to your plants and helps maintain evenly distributed moisture in the soil. Adding compost introduces beneficial organisms to the soil that help to aerate the soil, break down organic material for plant use and ward off plant disease. With compost your soil comes alive with everything it needs to produce that abundant harvest you expect.

Don’t have room to create your own compost? Many soil amendments produce similar results to compost. For example, Espoma Garden Tone is a quality blend of organic and inorganic nutrients designed to provide the proper growing conditions for tomatoes and vegetables. When possible, it is still important to blend organic matter including humus or peat moss into the top 4 to 5 inches of soil.

Whether you are starting a container garden for the first time or planting in the same garden you’ve used for years, now is the time to focus on the condition of the soil. Good soil condition includes achieving a good pH balance plus proper moisture retainers before the first plant goes in the ground. While the need for moisture control varies from region to region and is dependent on the climate, the soil pH varies from garden to garden and is dependent on you. It takes time to change the soil’s pH. Get growing!

There’s an easy way to bring a little spring indoors while it’s still winter outdoors…

Do you have spring flowering trees and shrubs? You can prune long branches now, and force them into bloom indoors. Here’s how:

1. Use sharp pruners to cut branches at least 12 inches long. Choose a branch with plenty of buds and make sure you don’t cut ones that will spoil the shape of your tree or shrub later.  If you can cut branches that need to be pruned off anyway, all the better!
2. Immediately put stems in warm (not hot) water; bring your cut branches inside.
3. If possible, submerge the branches completely in a bathtub of lukewarm water overnight. This will encourage them to start blooming.
4. With the end of the branch under water, make an X shaped cut into the end of the branch(watch your fingers!) Trim off any side shoots that will be under water once the stems are in a vase.
5. Place the stems in a vase of warm water in indirect light. Cool indoor temperatures, misting, and indirect light will all help prolong bloom time. Change the water weekly.

Some spring flowering trees and shrubs to try:
Forsythia, cherry, red bud, witch hazel, and Pussy willow, azalea,  and rhododendron.

Think of all the ways you could use one of these beautiful engraved crocks. It would make a gorgeous planter on the front steps. Use it to hold kindling, magazines, or newspapers. In the kitchen, its generous size will hold all your utensils. An ice bucket, a door stop, a corral for the remote controls and TV guide; there are dozens of reasons to have your very own personalized Whitehall crock. AND, wouldn’t it make a great gift!

The Details:

• 2 gallon capacity
• For indoor or outdoor use
• Handcrafted in USA from premium Tennessee clay
• Protected with lead free glaze
• Personalization and design are deeply carved  to last
• Personalization is available in 4 different weather-resistant finishes
• 9.75″ Diameter x 9″ Height

Another  idea to stir your imagination:

I used Milky Spores a few years ago. Cost me approx. $500.00 to do my lawn. Took a long time to put it on the lawn and it did not do one bit of good. The next summer and the following years I had just as many moles as before applying Milky Spores.

I feel his frustration. His lawn was being destroyed, he spent a lot of money to fix it, and didn’t solve the problem.

I want to clarify a common source of confusion regarding using Milky Spore. Milky Spore kills the grubs of Japanese beetles. That is the ONLY thing it does.

Moles eat grubs, so  ridding your soil of grubs and other soil insects can help with a mole problem.

But it will not help if  you have gophers or voles, or other burrowing animals that eat plants, not bugs. Killing every grub in the neighborhood will not get rid of them.

The question to ask when deciding to apply Milky Spore is-Do I have a grub problem?

Dig up a shovel full of dirt here and there.  If you have white grubs like this-

then Milky Spore will get rid of your grub problem, and your Japanese Beetle problem, and may help with moles as well. But if your main concern is moles or other burrowing animals then I’d start with one of these:

It seems like planting seeds has gotten complicated recently  

Should you only plant organic seeds? Arent’ all seeds organic? What about heirlooms? Are hybrids bad? Or good? Let’s try to define some of these terms, although, even that can be complicated.

Organic Seeds- Seeds are living things, so in that sense yes, they are all organic.

But in this case the term “organic” defines how they were produced. The USDA defines organic seeds this way:  USDA organic seeds are seeds that are grown without the aid of synthetic fertilizers, chemicals, pesticides or herbicides. Pretty simple.

Heirloom Seeds- Here things get a little fuzzier.
One school of thought uses the age of that particular species. So some say the variety has to have been grown for the last 100 years to be considered an heirloom; others say 50 years. Still another camp uses 1945 as the defining date, since the end of WWII is when hybrids started being widely grown and sold.

Another school of thought defines heirloom the same way you’d describe a piece of jewelry or furniture- a treasured cultivar that has been grown by a family and handed down from one generation of gardeners to the next many times.
Oftentimes, the value of an heirloom is that over time it has adapted to its local environment, developing resistance to pests, and thriving in the weather extremes of that particular climate.

The one common definition of an heirloom seed is that it must be open pollinated, and reliably reproduce itself from seed year after year, maintaining its same characteristics. Seeds from an heirloom plant can be saved and planted the following year, and counted on to grow and produce as in the previous years.

Hybrids
Hybrids are developed by combining specific characteristics of multiple varieties to produce a plant that meets certain qualifications. It may bred to be disease resistant, produce bigger yields, fruits of uniform size, or long-lasting  fruits.

Hybrid varieties cannot be planted from last year’s seed. The seed may not sprout at all, and if it does, it probably will not give you the same plant you originally grew. It may not produce flowers or fruit, or look anything like its parent. That’s why hybrid seeds have to be purchased every year.

What’s the advantage? Reliability for one. If you want a tomato resistant to a certain disease, buy that variety. Looking for big tomatoes, hard to bruise berries, or early crops? There are hybrids developed to address all of those concerns- for one season. Next year, if you were happy with the result, you’ll buy the same seed again.

Browse our BIG seed collection

So that’s the scoop. There is a seed for every style of gardener, and a seed that will meet almost any demand. (I have not found a plant that will weed it’s own flowerbed, YET).  So don’t get bogged down. Try something new, try something you already love, and every year you’ll learn a little more.

What are you planting new this year? Share with us here…..

I love these planter bags from Bosmere. They are very sturdy, and once filled with soil and plants, they look nice and neat enough for the front yard. Mine were new last year, and when I put them away at the end of the season, they still looked new, not faded or worn, so they’ll look just as nice this season.

The salad planter bag would also work great for beets, carrots or anything that doesn’t get too tall. I have one for my lettuce greens and another one will hold beets this spring.

The tomato bags come in a pack of three and work out great for cherry tomatoes, or any patio tomato variety. Of course they would work with peppers too, and if you put in some stakes, you could plant beans, cucumbers and other climbers, as long as they aren’t too heavy.

There isn’t much these planting bags can’t handle. But what is most valuable to me is the ability to take advantage of small patches of sunshine to grow a big garden!

More Bosmere Planting Bags:

Insect Protection

But that is just one in a long list of  things Harvest Guard is good for. It can also be used through the growing season to keep bugs away. Light and air will penetrate, but destructive insects can’t get to your plants. Keep in mind that if you need pollinators for your crop, you’ll have to remove the cover every couple of days to let the pollinating insects in.

You can also use it on berries and fruit trees to keep birds from eating your fruit.

Seed Germination

Use Harvest Guard after seeding a lawn to keep seed in place until it germinates. It works better than straw and here is why:

• Better  germination rates – 90-95% with Harvest Guard vs. 50-70% using straw.
• Faster germination because Harvest Guard warms the soil 10-15 degrees .
• Less watering. Since the fabric retains moisture, one watering will usually see the seeds through to complete germination unless it is very hot or windy.
• The fabric keeps birds from eating your seed.
• Dramatic reduction in weeds because the Harvest Guard completely covers the soil.

To use Harvest Guard for patching bare spots, just cut with scissors to the desired shape, and anchor with garden staples or pegs.

See what I mean about how versatile Harvest Guard is?

It’s just a swath of lightweight fabric, but it can do so many things in your garden.

To order yours, just go toSeedlover.com.

Nerve Plant

Depending on who makes up your household, there may be more to choosing the right houseplants than style, taste and lighting conditions.

Some plants are toxic,  so if you have small children, or pets in the home, you need to take precautions to protect their safety.

Now, before you throw all your potted plants into the compost heap, there are a couple of things to keep in mind.

First, the word toxic encompasses everything from a skin rash to an upset stomach,  to more serious, even fatal reactions.

Second, in many cases, a large quantity of the plant must be ingested to produce a reaction.

Still, it makes sense to know what you’re growing, and whether it poses a danger. Following is a list of plants which are non-poisonous to humans:

A couple of other thoughts. If you have a plant that’s not on this list, don’t assume it’s poisonous.  It’s just not on the list, so do some research to find out more. If you have a toxic plant, you may be able to move it out of harm’s way instead of getting rid of it entirely.

Use your houseplants as a teaching opportunity. Children should be taught never to put a part of a plant in their mouths. You have some control over your house, but you can’t child proof the great outdoors! So education, as well as barriers, is a good idea.

Did you know- over-watering is the number one cause of damage, poor health and death of houseplants? There are probably a lot of reasons for this-

1. Plants get watered on a schedule, instead of as needed.

2. Plant is not absorbing water the way it should, so it looks thirsty, even if soil is water-logged.

3. The plant looks unhealthy, but needs something else, not water.

Keep in mind that in many cases, houseplants are dormant during winter months. They are in a resting state, and just don’t need as much water as when they are growing vigorously.

I want to mention a couple of products that can help your house plants look their best, and stay healthy all winter, while preventing over watering problems.

The first is SAFER Oxygen Plus Plant Food. This is a low dose fertilizer (analysis 1-2-1) that gives your plants a balanced feeding every time you water. Just 2 squirts per quart of water every time you water keeps plants healthy. But the big difference in this and other house plant foods is this:  Safer Oxygen Plus releases oxygen into the soil around the roots, preventing them from being smothered. This keeps the roots healthy and gives them essential “breathing room” to absorb water, oxygen and nutrients.  Don’t water until the pot feels light and soil is dry up to the first knuckle on your finger.

The second product I’d recommend is Bonide Leaf Shine. It’s not just for prettying up your potted plants, it protects them from excess moisture loss. Plants lose a lot of water through the leaves. Bonide Leaf Shine coats the leaves with a natural looking, shiny coating that seals in moisture. It can be used on any plant with smooth leaves, and will prevent excess water loss through the leaves.  You may not be tempted to over-water if leaves look fresher and don’t have that dried-out look that the warm indoor air can cause.

So, to keep your potted plants looking and feeling their best all winter, water only when needed, add SAFER Oxygen Plus whenever you do water, and use Bonide Leaf Shine to keep leaves shiny and preserve their moisture.

Why do you think plants get over-watered? And how do you prevent it?

The Balateeo Portable Balcony table is a favorite of mine too. It fastens securely to any railing to give you instant table space outdoors. It’s crafted beautifully from solid wood, so it looks nice, feels smooth, and makes a great place to put drinks, snacks, or set up a work space. If you have to get some work done, why not do it in a pleasant outdoor space, right?

For entertaining, set up a couple of these portable tables, and everyone has a convenient place to set down a drink, or a dinner plate. If you have a tiny balcony with no room for a full size table, this makes a handy way to enjoy your meal or morning coffee outside. Once you have the Balateeo table, you’ll think of all kinds of occasions to put it to use.

But the best recommendation comes from our customers, like the one I mentioned, who tried it, liked it, and had to have more! Give it a try yourself, and be sure to let me know how you use YOUR Balateeo table. Here’s how I use mine….

When